Elevating and transfer truck unit



April 2 1935.

H. J. H. HUBER ,ELEVATING AND TRANSFER TRUCK UNIT l Filed Feb. 18, 1953Invehtr: I Herman clII-Iuber b9 w/yvwe@ His Attorvneg.

Patented Apr. 2, 1935 PATEN O'FFCE;

` ELEVATING AND TRANSFER TRUCK UNIT Herman J. H. Huber, Brookline, Pa.,assign-orv to General Electric Company, a. corporation of New YorkApplication February 1s, 193s, serial No. 657,415

6 Claims.

My invention relates to elevating Vand transfer truck units, as forexample of the character required for positioning and removing thecircuit breakers and otherapparatus in a metalv clad,

oil lled bus and switch station of the type having overhead supportingstructure.

In a station of the aforesaid type wherein heavy and comparativelymassive circuit breakerunits are suspended in operative position fromoverhead supporting structure, inspection, repair or transfer of thecircuit breaker necessitates the provision of means for removing andreplacing said units, as by means operating beneath the supportingstructure. Since the height of the overhead supporting structure is .afactor in the cost of a station, it is desirable that the aforesaidmeans operating beneath the structure be compact in design, of minimumheight, and readily accessible for inspection and operation. I

The principal object of my invention is the provision of an improvedelevating and transfer truck unit which is rugged and compact in designand which may be controlled and operated by a single attendant.

My invention will be more vfully set forth in the following descriptionreferring to the accompanying drawing, and the features of novelty whichcharacterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in theclaims annexed yto and forming a part of this specification.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 is an end elevational View of a metalclad bus and switch station having an elevating and transfer truck unitembodying the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view,partly in section, of the aforesaid truck unit.

A An elevating andtransfer truck unit I is illustrated, by way ofexample, as incorporated in a metall cladbus and switch station of thetype wherein oil circuit breaker units 2 are suspended from overheadsupporting structure 3. 'I'he overhead structure 3 having verticalsupporting pillars 4 is generally fabricated of structural steel and inaddition tothe heavy oil circuit breaker units 2, supports associatedapparatus as the busbar structure 5 and potential transformer 6.v Themetal clad bus and'switch stationrper se forms no part of thepresentrinvention, the type in question being well known to thoseskilled in the art, and further detailed description is unnecessaryother than to mention that the overhead supporting structure isgenerally arranged to form adjacent bays, so that there is acontinuouspassageway Ybeneath the structure in which the elevating andtransfer truck unit I may operateL The truck uniti comprises asupporting framev I mounted for longitudinal movement beneath theoverhead structure. The frame I il is mounted on and guided by wheels IIon a track I2 which extends longitudinally of the station. A carriage I3is similarly mounted on theframe IIJ for movement transversely thereoffor the purpose of placing thersame in operative position with respecttothe circuit breaker units 2 orother appartus. The carriage I3 isprovided with supporting towers I4 at opposite end sthereof from whichis suspended the work-receiving platform I5 which is movable verticallywith respect to the carriage |3 Accordingly, it will be apparentthatthevworkreceiving platform I5 may be positionedbeneath a circuit breaker2 for lowering andreplacing the same, by first rolling the supportingframe IB to ther approximate point in the bayL in which the circuitbreaker unit is located, moving the carriage I3 transversely of theframe until the platform I5 is substantially beneath the circuit breakerunit, and nally elevating the platform until it is directly beneath thecircuit Ybreaker unit so that the same may be unclamped. from theoverhead supporting structure and lowered on thev platform. Thecircuiti4 breaker unit may be removed from the station by lowering theplatform I5 and moving the carriage I3 transversely until the supportingtowers I4 are approximately centrally of the bay so that there is nolinterference between the supporting towers .and 'remaining circuitbreaker units as the truck unit is rolled out of the station. Y u yReferring more particularly to Fig.2 which shows the elevating andtransfer truck unit Vin greater detailfthesupportingframe Ill comprisesa rectangular structure fabricated of structural steel having channelsections, as I-beams it', forming the transverse ends -of the frame. Thesupporting wheels I I are suitably mounted on 'the sides of theframeforpguiding, the unit on the track I2. The carriage I3 which-ismounted on and movable transversely fof `the frame IB includes a basestructure I3 comprising channel sections, the baseextendingjlongitudinally acrossv the frame I0 and provided with wheelsI6 iat its opposite ends bearing on the lower flanges vof the endI-beams I0' for guiding the carriage I3 transversely of the supportingframe. Acco-rdinglyit will be noted that-the carriage I3 is mounted wellWithin the frame I-and but a short distance above the track I2 so thatIthere isa comparatively-- small increase in the height of the carriageI3 with respect to the kmaintrack I2 yas ywould otherselectivelyactuated unidirectional clutch mechanism, the supporting frame I0,carriage I3 and the work-receiving platform I5. rTo this end the motorI'I is connected by means of chain gearing I8 to a countershaft I9onwhich is mounted clutch mechanism for'connecting the motor to thesupporting frame I0, clutch mechanism 2| for connecting the motor to thecarriage I3 and vclutch mechanism 22 for connecting the motor to theplatform I5. The aforesaid clutch mechanisms are not illustrated indetail in the interest of clearness, it being of course understood thatany suitable clutching device, as of the wellknown cone type for`example, maybe used if desired. f

The separate clutch mechanisms are each provided with actuating meansindicated at 20', 2| and 22', respectively, comprising levers pivoted soas to cause engagement and.v disengagementV of the corresponding clutchupon actuation of the clutch lever. Y Y y For the purpose ofcentralizing the control of the clutch actuating means Vat a singlepoint `on the truck unit, a controlpedestal 23 is mounted on thecarriage I3 and is provided with aV control box 24 for operating levers20", 2|" andv 22" suitably connected through connecting rods and cranksto the clutch? actuating means 2B', 2| and 22', respectively.Accordingly, an attendant standing on the control pedestal may controlthe operative connections between the motor I1 and the frame I0,carriage I3 and platformY I5.

As illustrated, the motor II'I may actuate the aforesaid movable-portionseither selectively or simultaneously. In certainvcases it maybe desirable to interlock thev clutch operating handles so that but asingle clutchfor example may be engaged at a time. In this caseanysuitable interlocking means may be used, such interlocking ofoperations being well known and vdescription and illustration of thesame being unnecessary for understanding thepresent invention."

Referring more particularly to the operative connections between themotor and the truck unit and movable parts thereof, the connectionsbetween the motor and the frame I|J comprises the clutch mechanism 20,the clutch-controlled idler gear 25 mounted on the shaft I9, chain drive26 and countershaft 21 which is suitably journaled to bearings xed withrespect tothe base structure |3 of the carriage I3. A pair of wheels I|of the frame il are connected to; a main drive shaft 23 as by thegearing 29, and the countershaft 2Ifis operatively connected tothe'drive shaft 28 by gear couplings SI1- 3| so as to provide foractuation on the drive shaft 28 regardless of the transverse position ofthe carriage onA the supporting'box. In the present instancethisisfaccomplished -by a sliding, keyed connection between the shaft 28and gear 3|. The shaftr 28 is preferably square in cross sectionWithinthe range of movement of the carriage` I3, the'gear 3| beingffreeto slide longitudinally o-f the shaft 28 but, of course, keyed theretowith respect to rotative movement. It will, therefore, be apparent thatas the carriage I3 is shifted transversely of the supporting frame, thegear 3|, which is in mesh with the coacting gear 30, is correspondinglyshifted so that a driving connection between the motor and truck unitlmay be effected at any time.

'The connection between the motor and the carriage I3 comprises theclutch mechanism 2|, the clutch-controlled idler gear 32 on shaft I9,coacting gear 33, countershaft 34 and the gear drive connection 35 fordirectly driving a pair of wheels I6 of the carriage. Transversemovement of the carriage is, therefore, readily effected by engaging theclutch mechanism 2|.

The connection between the motor and the work-receiving platform I5comprises the clutch mechanism 22, the clutch-controlled idler gear 36on shaft I9, coacting gear 3l and countershaft 38 at the opposite endsof which a pair of jackscrews 39 are actuated through the gearing 4|).Each jackscrew is preferably mounted and housed by a supporting tower l4 as best illustrated by the broken-away portion of the drawing. For thepurpose of connecting the platform I5 to its actuating means so as toprevent binding or jamming in the event of eccentric loading of theplatform, and for allowing slight sidewise or pivotal movement of theplatform for properly aligning the-circuit breaker unit when elevatedinto position, each jackscrew is connected` to one end ofthe platform |5by means of a single traveling nut 4I and a pair of cables 42 operatingon pulleys 43. The pulleys 43 arek suitably mounted in the upper part ofthe corresponding supporting :r

tower and are connected at one end to the traveling nut 4I and at theother end to an outer edge ofthe platform I5. The platform I5 ispreferably notched as at I5 so that the opposite ends of the platformare loosely guided by the towers I4.

By reason of the aforesaid suspension of the platform at its oppositeends, a limited degree of sidewise or pivotal movement of the platformis permitted for final and accurate positioning of the'circuit breakerunits. Furthermore, the use of a single traveling nut on an endjackscrew prevents binding or jamming at the screw threads as might bethe case where a pair of jackscrews at each end of the platform areused.

The motor Il is supplied with power from a point xed with respect to thetruck unit by means of a flexible power cable 44 which is led out alongthe outer side of the track I2, as indicated, and maintained undertensionA by a cable reel 45 mounted beneath the control pedestal 23.rThe cable reel I5-feeds out the cable whenfthe truck unit is moved alongthe stationv and takes up the slack when the truck unit is returned. Bylaying the cable along the outer side of the track thc probability ofdamage to the cable by the truck unit itself is minimized and the cablelikewise is less in the Way of attendants Working around the truck unit.The electrical connection between the cable reel and the motor maycomprise a rigid conduit 46 kfor housing the power conductors in View ofthe fact that the motor is mounted on the carriage itself. Theconnection between the cable reelfand the conduit 45 is suitably made asby in accordance with operating requirements. For example, where nolimit switches are considered necessary in the travel of the carriageand work-receiving platform, three push button switches for the motorare suicient; that is,

forward, reverse and stop switches. Where, however, the limit switchesare desired, a separate set of push button switches, as generallyindicated at 48 on the control box, are used for each operation.

It should be understood that my invention is not limited to specificdetails of construction and arrangement thereof herein illustrated, andthat changes and modifications may occur to one skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is,-

l. An elevating and transfer truck unit comprising a supporting framemounted for longitudinal movement, a carriage mounted on said frame formovement transversely thereof, a work-receiving platform mounted on andmovable vertically with respect to said carriage, a motor mounted onsaid carriage, means operatively connecting said motor to saidsupporting frame including a drive shaft for said frame and a drivinggear slidably mounted thereon and movable with said carriage and clutchmeans between said motor and said frame, carriage and platform foreffecting selective actuation of the same.

2. An elevating and transfer truck unit comprising a supporting framemounted on a track for longitudinal movement, a carriage similarlymounted on said frame for movement transversely thereof, aWork-receiving platform extending across and suspended at opposite endsfrom said carriage and vertically movable with respect thereto, a motorcarried by said unit, and selectively actuated clutch mechanism foroperatively connecting said motor to either said supporting frame,carriage or platform,

3. An elevating and transfer truck unit comprising a supporting framemounted for longitudinal movement, a carriage mounted on said frame formovement transversely thereof, a Work-receiving platform mounted on andmovable vertically with respect to said carriage, a reversible motormounted on said carriage, and uni-directional clutch means operativelyconnecting said motor to said supporting frame, carriage and platformfor effecting selective actuation of the same.

4. An elevating and'transfer truck unit comprising a supporting framemounted and guided on a track for longitudinal movement, said framehaving transverse side members forming channel sections, a carriagehaving supporting wheels at opposite ends thereof guided within andatthe lower parts of said channel sections so that said carriage maymove transversely of said frame, supporting structure mounted atopposite ends of said carriage, a work-receiving platform positionedbetween and depending from said structures, and means for selectivelyactuating said platform, carriage and supporting frame.

5. An elevating and transfer truck unit comprising a supporting framemounted for longitudinal movement, a carriage mounted on said frame formovement transversely thereof, a

work-receiving platform mounted on and movable vertically with respectto said carriage, a

vertically positioned supporting tower including a jackscrew and a pairof cables operatively interconnecting said jackscrew and one end of saidplatform mounted at opposite ends of said carriage, each of said cablesbeing connected at one end to the corresponding jackscrew and at itsother end to the outer edge of said platform so as to provide foreccentric loading of said platform, a motor mounted on said carriage,and selective clutch mechanism for operatively connect- 'mg said motorto said jackscrews for raising or lowering said platform and to saidcarriage for effecting transverse movement thereof.

6. An elevating and transfer truck unit com prising a supporting framehaving Wheels mounted on a track for longitudinal movement, a carriagesimilarly mounted on said frame for movement transversely thereof, awork-receiving platform suspended from said carriage andverticallymovable with respect thereto, a motor mounted on said carriage, acontrol pedestal for said motor mounted on said carriage, a clutchmechanism for operatively connecting said motor to said platform, asecond clutch mechanism for operatively connecting said motor to saidcarriage, and a third clutch mechanism operatively connecting said motorto a drive shaft for moving `said supporting frame and truck unit alongsaid track, said drive shaft having a driving gear mounted forlongitudinal movement on said shaft for coacting with a gear mounted onsaid carriage, said clutch mechanism being selectively controlled fromsaid control pedestal.

HERMAN J. I-I. HUBER.

